By Melvin Jackson
MONROVIA: “My coming to court here does not mean I am guilty” says a sensational Liberian international social media blogger and podcast host identified as Nayapougma Yeazeahn, alias “Prophet Key” who was arrested yesterday by the Monrovia City Court on allegations levied by several victims of his Facebook podcast including Liberia’s Culture Ambassador Juli Endee who told judicial reporters that “the Law will take its course”
The return of Prophet Key, a contender for the coveted Cultural Ambassador position under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai amidst looping legal challenges that awaited him which made his eventual return a dramatic turn of events as he found himself embroiled in legal turmoil characterized by multiple lawsuits against him.
Prominent amongst the lawsuit is that of Culture Ambassador Endee, whose complaint apparently led to a Writ of Arrest issued by the Court.
Already, Ambassador Endee has filed a lawsuit against Prophet Key before the Civil Law Court at the Temple of Justice claiming a damage of a staggering over US$5 million from Key, which is in addition to the mounting legal challenges the Social Media prophet faces from several other victims reportedly slandered in his podcast.
It was also said that Senator Melvin Snowe awaited Prophet Keys’ return to the country to address allegations made online regarding the honorable, which when followed, would further complicate the talk-show host’s legal predicament.
Despite the mounting legal pressure, Prophet Key remains resolute in his decision to return to Liberia, announcing his arrival in the capital city on February 14, 2024.
Accordingly, the Prophet returned to the country and was arrested by the Monrovia City Court yesterday thereby generating huge public interest as several trooped to the Temple of Justice where a massive police presence was forbidding the throng of people from swarming the courtroom.
rophet Key usually used profanity in expressing his thoughts on issues concerning newsmakers, and he was sued by Culture Ambassador Endee for openly saying her long tenure of service as Culture Ambassador was due to her social relations with officials including presidents of successive governments, saying that the Culture Ambassador was intimating with officials and presidents just to be retained on the post.
The police officers that were massively deployed at the Monrovia City Court were rigidly securing the entrance of the Monrovia City Court stopping the resilient crowd of people who wanted to take a glimpse of the Social Media podcast host.
Amidst the push and pull between the security and the civilian crowd that have congregated at the Court upon the receipt of the news of Prophet Keys’ arrest, Ambassador Endee finally made her way from the Courtroom, as journalists sandwiched her to speak to them before boarding the vehicle that drove away from the premises of the court.
Amongst several other things, she told reporters that “The Law will take its course” no matter what, shortly before she boarded her sparkling white pickup.
As the crowds ran about to see Prophet Key and to know what qas his fate, police was suddenly escorted him from the courtroom to the Liberia National Police Headquarters from the Monrovia City Court, where Stipendiary Magistrate Ben Barco has granted a personal recognizance bond that prompted the release his release.
A personal recognizance bond, or a “PR” bond, is a bond that allows the accused to be released from jail without paying a financial sum. The offender has to promise to appear in court on a certain date.
Our judicial correspondence who accessed the Writ of Arrest said Yeazeahn (Prophet Key) was brought before the court on charges of criminal coercion, menacing and disorderly conduct.
He was complained to the court by Liberia’s Cultural Ambassador Julie Endee who informed the court that Prophet Key during one of his podcasts accused her of having affairs with former President George Weah, and other government officials, including Unity Party Secretary General Amos Tweh to retain her post.
She further informed the court that the Prophet threatened that he will ensure that she never has the opportunity to work in any other government in her lifetime, something she said infuses fear in her.
Ambassador Endee, added that the defendant did it with the intent and purpose to bring her to public ridicule and shame, stating that the act of the defendant is criminal, illegal, and unconstitutional.
During the court argument, prosecution lawyers ask the court to issue a writ of Nel-exist- Republica on the defendant to prevent him leaving the country anytime.
The prosecution further informed the court that since it is the first appearance of the defendant, he should be made to answer to the writ so as to enable him to plead either guilty or not guilty to the writ.
They also want the defendant to file a criminal appearance bond as failure to comply with the court, or be remanded at the Monrovia City Court.
To the contrary, the defense lawyers prayed the court for continual so as to allow the defendant to build his criminal appearance bond in keeping with law.
The defendant lawyer’s plea is based on the fact that criminal cases are not to be heard during the afternoon hours, as the defendant was brought under the canopy of the court after 3pm.
Meanwhile, the Monrovia City Court Judge Ben Barco, granted the defense lawyer’s motion by extending the case to a later date predicated upon the issuance of a notice of assignment.
It can be recalled on January 16, 2024 the Madam Juli Endee sued Morocco-based Liberian, Nayabougua Yeazeahn alais Prophet Key, for an alleged action of damage for libel and slander at the Civil law Court of Montserrado County.
In a writ issued, Ambassador Endee complained and informed the court to adjudge the Defendant liable for damages in the tone of less than Five Million United States Dollars for General Damages to be decided by the trial jury.
The complainant further requested the court to hold the defendant for US$300,000.00 in Punitive Damages and USS250, 000.00 for successful attorney fees.
The Plaintiff says that the Defendant is believed to be a Liberian citizen who currently resides in the Arab Kingdom of Morocco and operates a talk show on several social media outlets such as Facebook, and TikTok.
Accordingly, the Liberia Culture Ambassador alleged that Prophet Key uses his show that is merely intended to blackmail, ignominy, denigrate and besmear the high-earned reputations of some prominent Liberian citizens.
Ambassador Endee through her lawyers added that sometimes in the month of December, 2023, in two (2) of Defendant’s video podcasts published on social media, he willfully, intentionally, and purposely engaged in a slanderous and libelous campaign to harm and defame, embarrass, and humiliate the Plaintiff.
“Plaintiff submits and says further that the Defendant did not just make defamatory and derogatory statements against her person but labeled the Plaintiff is an indecent person who is engaged in inappropriate relationships with high- profile personalities, namely former President Charles Taylor, current President George Manneh Weah”.
She further narrated that the defendant alleged that she is attempting to engage in an inappropriate relationship with the current Secretary-General of the Unity Party, Mr. Amos Tweh for the purpose of
Securing a space in the incoming Government of President-elect, Amb. Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
“That Plaintiff says and avers that upon hearing from family relatives, friends, local and international partners and by Plaintiff’s personal viewing of the video podcasts published by Defendant on his social media platforms, Plaintiff has made frantic effort by communicating with the Minister of Justice, Cllr. Frank-Musa Dean, Jr., Minister of Justice & Attorney-General of the Republic of Liberia to include the United Nations Resident Coordinator to Liberia, the Delegation of the European Union in Liberia, the Embassy of the United States of America near Monrovia, the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL), Press Union of Liberia, the Unity Party and other government ministries and agencies about the constant attack against her person.
“Plaintiff submits and avers that the content of the video podcast contains unsubstantiated and unfounded accusation in which the Defendant alleged that the Plaintiff has discouraged people from voting for the President-elect, Amb. Joseph Nyuma Boakai during the 2023 general and Presidential Elections amongst others”.
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